Born in Los Angeles, California, Roberta Lampert first encountered ceramics in high school. She developed a passion for the immediacy of process and tactile qualities of clay. At the College of Ceramics at Alfred, NY, Lampert was mentored by Robert Turner, who influenced her understanding of form and surface, thinking about creativity, and a desire to reflect awareness of experience and the impact of environment in her work.
Since 1978 Lampert has lived in the Portland, Oregon area. In addition to a vibrant craft community, Portland offers proximity to wilderness environments and outdoor recreation, adding exploration and adventure as influences on her work.
In the mid 80’s, Lampert built a studio at home. With no gas on the property, she developed a production line of thrown and hand-built electric-fired porcelain, decorated with colorful representations of nature, still life, and human images, all referring to her own life.
Lampert closed her studio for 20 years while she raised two children, returning to clay in 2015. Focusing on shapes and texture inspired by nature, she developed a new approach to working with her electric kilns and added immersion in the local wood firing community. The effects of wood firing—flame, ash, and wind—complement the immediacy of process, forms, and texture that she now explores.
In 2020, Lampert established propane service at her studio, and built a soda/salt kiln. As an added avenue for exploration, soda/salt provides some of the atmospheric qualities of wood firing with the ability to fire at her own studio.